The Ferrari certainly buffs Italy's reputation for high design. It may also represent a revival of Ferrari's legendary styling form, which had shown signs of becoming secondary to remorseless function.
The Italia is the second-least-costly Ferrari (after the California) at $230,275. That base price undercuts the 599 by over $100,000.
If you have that kind of money, the Italia — unlike some high-priced, half-baked exotics — is worth every penny. The car's sensory experience is nearly unfathomable.
The Italia may also mark a revival of Ferrari's legendary styling form.
In the center of a space-frame chassis lies a flat-crank, dry-sump V-8 that makes 562 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque from just 4.5 liters of displacement.
The design also inhales cool air for the engine, brakes and aerodynamic downforce — while dispersing gearbox heat and smoothing turbulence at the rear — without a profusion of scoops and nostrils.
Instead, drivers use huge paddle shifters for the dual-clutch, seven-speed automated manual transmission.
Ferrari claims a 3.4-second run from a standstill to 60 miles per hour, a few ticks faster than the F430, and a top speed of 202 m.p.h.
A trio of exhaust outlets, reminiscent of Ferrari's old F40 supercar, open the outside pipes to unleash sound under hard throttle.
The cabin is all about the driver, with every control and display angled that way.
The striking carrier-deck rear end also recalls the departed Enzo.
In the nose, a pair of rubbery winglets deform nearly an inch at high speeds to reduce drag and lift.
While its forceful styling suggests, truthfully, that the Italia can match or outrun the Enzo supercar, the old Ferrari flow is back in the steamy suggestion of its Mediterranean curves. The Italia says that beauty doesn't have to be sacrificed to modern performance.
